Planthouse founder Katie Michel conceived of the idea for the book when her mother, Betsy Michel, decided to leave the family farm, Home Winds Farm in Gladstone, New Jersey, and preserve a significant portion of the land for agricultural use under the New Jersey Farmland Preservation Program. Over the course of a year, photographer Benjamin Swett sensitively captured the essence of Home Winds Farm through a series of portraits of the maples, beeches, lindens and black cherry trees that have populated the land for decades, many originally planted by the Michels. Heather Broderick’s tribute song is a haunting ballad inspired by memories from her own upbringing on forested land in the Northeast. Broderick composed and recorded an additional song, entitled Shoreline, to complete the B-side of the vinyl record that is bundled with the book.

Heather Woods Broderick is an American musician and composer. She has released two solo records under her own name: From the Ground (Preservation, 2009), and Glider (Western Vinyl, 2015). She has also worked in collaboration with many musicians over the last decade. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon.

Benjamin Swett is a photographer and writer. His previous books include New York City of Trees (winner of the 2013 New York City Book Award for Photography), The Hudson Valley: A Cultural Guide (2009). Route 22 (2007) and Great Trees of New York City: A Guide (2000). He lives in New York City with his wife and sons.